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ANALGESICS AND ANTI-INFLAMMATORIES

Pharmacological sinusitis treatments

These are indicated in situations with pain and inflammation of the sinusoids. They improve symptoms but not the disease.

How do they work?

Acetyl salicylic acid: it produces analgesia by blocking the synthesis of prostaglandins mediated by the inhibition of cyclooxygenase.Paracetamol: It peripherally blocks pain impulses through the reversible inhibition of cyclooxygenase, the enzyme that intervenes in the synthesis of the prostaglandins.Ibuprofen: Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAIDs) belonging to the group of the arylpropionic acids, which act by preventing the synthesis of prostaglandins.

What should be recommended for their proper use?:
  • Do not treat for more than 10 days.
  • Alcoholic drinks should not be ingested.
  • The recommended therapeutic doses should not be exceeded in any of the three.

 

Paracetamol: in orally disintegrating form, it can be dissolved directly in the mouth or with a little milk or water (not in fruit juice).

Acetylsalicylic acid: the orally disintegrating forms can be dissolved directly in the mouth, it is not necessary to drink liquids. The other forms must be taken with milk, water or fruit juices.Ibuprofen: All the oral forms, even the orally disintegrating ones, must be taken with water, milk or fruit juice.

What situations may give rise to problems related to these medicinal products?
  • The use of aspirin and ibuprofen is contraindicated in patients that have had asthmatic crises.
  • In prolonged aspirin and ibuprofen treatments, the patient should be monitored carefully to detect possible signs and symptoms of ulcers or gastrointestinal haemorrhage.
  • Paracetamol should be monitored due to its possible hepatotoxicity.
  • Adverse effects include nausea, gastric acidity, dyspepsia, urticary and exanthematic reactions.
  • Patients with hypertension should be monitored if treated with acetyl salicylic acid or ibuprofen.

Do these drugs interact with other medicinal products?

Acetyl salicylic acid and ibuprofen:

  • The administration of two or more NSAIDS can increase the risk of peptic ulcer.
  • When administered with oral anticoagulants, they may cause haemorrhages.
  • The simultaneous administration of ibuprofen-aspirin may reduce the antiplatelet properties of aspirin.
  • When administered with certain medicinal products, such as corticosteroids, the risk of gastric haemorrhages is increased.
  • Interactions with antihypertensive drugs.
Paracetamol: As this is metabolised through the liver, it may interact with medicinal products that are metabolised through this same route of elimination.